Results 13,581-13,600 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: I will have to refer the Deputy's question to the Minister for Health. I will get him to come back to the Deputy.
- Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: I think that he has done a good job so far. We will try to meet the timeline he has set to ensure we have a referendum in late May or early June. He has tried to put a process in place to get us there in that timeline and the Government will act on that basis.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: The Ombudsman said this scheme was predominantly a good thing and was working well for the vast majority of patients. He did, however, raise concerns, and the HSE will now establish a working group which will include key stakeholders, such as patient advocates, to progress the recommendations in the Ombudsman's report.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: The Deputy raised the issue of the Ombudsman's report.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: The recommendations of the report will be taken on board and there is a working group to ensure that is the case. If the Deputy has a policy question-----
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: With respect to the Deputy, it is a bit rich for him to be critical of setting up working groups, given his own record.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: We are building houses.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: I accept that there are funding challenges for GSOC and that is why we have seen a significant increase in the allocation for 2018 over that for 2017. The Minister for Justice and Equality has made it clear he intends to ensure GSOC has the resources it needs to do the obvious work it needs to do.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: I will ask the Minister to respond.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: I will have to refer that question to the Minister for Health.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: The Deputy cannot expect me to have the details of an individual project off the top of my head.
- Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Coppinger for that question. I will address the timeline in terms of what the Government needs to do. The Taoiseach has made it clear that the Government is committed to a referendum, but there is a procedure that needs to be followed to ensure that becomes a reality. This is something the Government agreed as a three-step process some time ago. We agreed to set up a...
- Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: I am unsure whether it would be conducive to the House moving forward together if Opposition parties are going to start trying to force the pace on something. What we are trying to do - the Taoiseach has given great leadership on this - is recognise the fact that there are differences of opinion. These are deeply held and linked to people's personal circumstances and experience. Many in...
- Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: We are not only discussing hospices, for which the case is clear.
- Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: We are talking about section 39 organisations across a number of sectors. The Government is committed to establishing the facts in order that we can make the appropriate determinations on pay restoration. We will do so as quickly as we can.
- Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: While the Deputy and I often disagree, I agree with virtually everything she said. We need to ensure we rebuild a housing sector that can provide social and affordable private housing in a more effective and planned manner and do not leave this task to the vagaries of the market. This applies to Galway and many other towns and cities. It is for this reason that the Government will...
- Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: The plan we started with 18 months ago is now delivering increases in the numbers of social and private homes, as well as homes that are affordable to first-time buyers. I accept that there are particular problems in Galway. The figures available to me show that 100 houses were bought, newly built or brought back into use for social housing last year and that there are a further 350...
- Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: I am slow to offer too much commentary on my previous brief because the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, is now responsible for this matter. Anyway, I spent time with senior management in Galway City Council and Galway County Council - I imagine the Minister, Deputy Murphy, has too - as well as both together to talk about how we face the challenges...
- Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: I take the point that when questions of redress or compensation are being discussed in tragic circumstances in which the State is responsible for wrongdoing, there is often a concern about the setting of a precedent. Given the extraordinary circumstances of this case, I do not think it sets a precedent to try to deal with it in a sensitive way. With the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan,...
- Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: I am aware that the Deputy also raised the case of Molly yesterday. The Ombudsman for Children's report which is very concerning highlights a gap in the provision and co-ordination of supports and services by Tusla and the HSE for children in foster care who have diagnosed moderate or severe disabilities. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, and the Minister, Deputy Katherine...